Paper cut-out



Aug. 29, 1939.

N. SPOTS PAPER CUT-OUT Filed Nov. 30, 1936 INVENTOR. NE'LL Spa T5 A TTORNE Y.

III

Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics 1 Claim.

This invention relates to paper cut-outs, and has for its objects to provide a cut-out of paper, card board, or similar material adapted to be cut and readily folded in a novel manner to provide a figure of an animal or other object, of sufficient inherent rigidity to maintain a standing or natural position, and to provide a body and head form in such animal of a character to simulate the natural appearance of an animal or other specific object when viewed from any point of normal observation. Other objects will appear in the description and drawing annexed hereto.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a fiat blank of paper or card-board, after cutting from a sheet.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of Fig. 1 after being folded to form the object, which in this instance, is a bulldog.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the 0 dog figure of Fig. 2 taken along a line extending longitudinally through the head and body thereof.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of flat blank of paper, or cardboard after cutting from a sheet, which cutout is a slightly different form, from that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the blank of Fig. 4 after the blank is folded to form the object, which, in this instance is that of a spaniel dog.

Fig. 6 is a central vertical sectional view of the dog figure of Fig. 5 taken along a line extending longitudinally through the head and body thereof.

Briefly described, the outline of the blanks, may first be printed on plain sheets of paper or cardboard and later cut out with a knife or scissors along the printed lines, or the blanks may be. made from. properly formed dies, although the former method is ordinarily preferable inasmuch as children desire most pleasure from both cutting out and folding the blanks and it is a much cheaper method.

While I have shown only two forms of objects, both being dogs, but of different characteristics, it will be seen that practically all types of dogsand also other animals may be constructed along the same or similar lines, as I have done, but in practically all of the constructions, certain features shown in the two examples, are retained, a few only of which are, the parallel longitudinal creases down the back with the neck and head portion extended from an end of the strip lying between the creases, also the doubling of the neck portion adjacent the forward end of the main body portion which functions to elevate the head and to strengthen the neck, which is normally subjected to most strain, also the formation of a substantially hollow head as well as body portion to give the appearance of thickness.

In the detailed description that follows, the term paper will be used in the description and claim to identify the material of the blank, it being understood that this term includes cardboard or any sheet material having similar semirigid characteristics for cutting out and folding to form the figures.

In Fig. 1, I show a blank for folding to form 10 an animal, in this case adog, which blank is formed to provide a main body portion i, neck portion 2, and head portion 3 and a tail i. The blank is elongated in the direction extending along a straight line from the head to the tail and is centrally formed with substantially parallel, spaced creases 5 that extend longitudinally of the body providing a strip 6 between the creases that forms the back of the animal when the blank is folded.

The portions of the body extending oppositely outwardly of the strip 6 are substantially complementarily formed in outline to provide the two opposite, lateral sides 1, l of the body including the four legs 8 thereof, two of the legs being on each of the sides. A tab 9 is formed in extension ofthe forward edge of side "I, the body being creased at to for folding the tab, and the tabhaving a notched element ll adapted to removably engage in a slot l2 formed in an extension tab I3 formed at the-forward edge of side I, the side 'i being creased at M for folding said tab l3.

At the rear edges of sides 1, l are tabs I5, l6 respectively, creases l1, 18 being formed to permit bending of the tabs for connecting the notched element I9 on tab iii in the slot 20 in tab 15. It will be noted that the slotted tab I5 and tab 9 that carries notched element H are on the side 1 while the slotted tab I3 and tab it that carries notched element l9 are on the side I which construction provides a more secure connection between the two sides when the sides are folded toward each other along creases 5 and the tabs are folded along their respective creases II], I4, I! and I8 and connected across the forward and rear ends of the body. The tabs also function to support the sides "I, 1 substantially parallel and to form the forward and rear ends of the body, thus making a generally hollow body with a closed top and closed front and rear ends as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The legs themselves are creased at 2| at their feet ends along lines generally parallel with creases 5, the feet outwardly of the creases 2| being adapted to be bent outwardly so each of the legs has a fiat supporting base 22.

The neck 2 of the figure is formed in longitudinal extension of the strip 6 and is formed adjacent its juncture with the body with transversely extending spaced creases 23, 24, the crease 24 being directly at the forward end of the body and crease 23 spaced along the neck form the body while projections 24 are formed on opposite side edges of the neck at a point spaced outwardly of crease 23 substantially a distance equal to the spacing between creases 23, 24.

Before connecting tabs 9, l3, the neck is bent downwardly along crease 24 and then bent upwardly along crease 23, after which the tabs 9, l3 are connected across the doubled portion of the neck formed by the binding steps described, as best seen in Fig. 3, and the head 3 is thereby strongly, though flexibly supported in an elevated position.

The head 3 is formed in longitudinal extension of the neck 2 and is formed with spaced parallel creases extending transversely hereacross at 25, 26, the space between the creases forming the top of the head of the figure (Fig. 3) while further outwardly along the head portion are a pair of spaced parallel creases 21, 28, which creases are parallel to creases 25, 26. Outwardly of crease 28, the head terminates in oppositely laterally extending flaps 29, 39 and creases 3| extend divergently outwardly and forwardly (relative to the figure) from the opposite ends of crease 28, the forward end of the head being relatively acutely notched at 33 with the apex of the notch at about the forward apex of creases 32.

In lateral opposite outward extension of the portion of the bend between creases 25, 26 are formed a pair of ears 34 that are creased at 35 at the juncture of the ears and said portion.

The flaps 29, 30, While extending laterally at opposite sides of the central portion of the head, also extend generally in a rearward direction, and at its rearward edge the flap 29 is extended to form a tab 36, slotted at 31' while flap 30 is formed with a notched tab 31 the end of which is adapted to engage in slot 31' when the head is folded, creases as indicated in dot-dash lines being formed at the juncture of the tabs 36, 31 with the main flaps 29, 30 to permit bending the tabs toward each other for connecting them together.

In folding the head, the portion forward of crease 21 is first bent upwardly and then the portion forward of crease 28 is bent downwardly and then the flaps 29, 30 are bent rearwardly along creases 3| so the flaps will form the opposite sides of; the head, and the tabs 36, 31 are bent toward each other behind the neck 2 and tab 31 is connected in slot 31-. The muzzle of the head is then forced laterally inwardly to close the gap formed by notch and to slightly overlap the portions adjacent the edges of the notch, which action permits the muzzle to bend along creases 32 to slightly point the nose, instead of its being absolutely fiat.

The form illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 results from the operations described, from which it will be seen that the completed animal has a substantial thickness, as well as a relatively accurate outline of a bulldog, the features and markings of the dog being printed on the blank before folding and which printings, particularly on the head, will all be co-related to give the proper expression when the blank is folded together and the parts are properly connected, although previously the printings appear disconnected. The body and head of the dog are hollow, the head is elevated at the proper degree, and the entire figure is pro duced from. a single blank without pasting.

In describing the device of Figs. 4 to 6, the same numerals will be used to describe elements identical with those in Figs. 1 to 3, but different numerals where there is a different construction.

The body portion I of this form of figure is, in its elements, creases, etc., identical with the construction described for Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the principal difference being in the respective outlines of the elements, which merely goes: to producing a dog figure resembling a spaniel, instead of the simulation of a bulldog.

The mechanical difierences in construction between Figs. 1 to 3 and Figs. 4 to 6 are in the neck and head portions, although the neck and head portions are formed in longitudinal extension of the body portion in generally the same manner as in Figs. 1 to 3.

In Figs. 4 to 6, the strip 6 between creases 5 is provided with a transverse slot 48 adjacent the neck portion 2'. The neck is transversely creased at 4|, 42 similar to creases 23, 24 of Fig. l, but a tab 43 is. formed out of the neck portion between creases 4|, 42 said tab connected along crease 4|.

The head 3 in extension of neck 2', is transversely creased at 44, 45 along spaced parallel lines parallel to creases 4|, 42 and from the ends of crease 44 a pair of creases 46 extend convergently forwardly to the tip 47 of the nose of the head which tip is downwardly bendable along crease 48 to close the forward end of the head. Ears 49 project laterally of the central portion of the head, being downwardly bendable along creases 49', and forwardly of the ears are lateral projections 5|] that are downwardly bendable along creases 46 to form the sides of the head.

In forming the figure from the blank, the body is first formed by bending the sides I, I along creases 5 and connecting the sides by tabs 9, l3, I5, I6 in the same manner as already described for Figs. 1 to 3 except that the body sides are connected before forming the head. Then the neck portion between creases 4|, 42 is bent rearwardly along crease 42 to lie over the top of the strip 6 at the forward end of the latter, and in this position the tab 43 is inserted in slot 46 to secure said neck portion in said position. The portion between creases 4| and 45 is bent to extend upwardly (Fig. 6) along crease 4|, forming the rear of the head, and the portion between creases, 44, 45 is bent downwardly along crease 45 to form the top of the head while the portion forwardly of crease 44 is slightly bent downwardly along crease 44 to form the sloping top of the muzzle of the dog. After these bends are made the side extensions 58 are bent downwardly along creases 43 forming the sides of the head and ears 49 are bent downwardly along the creases in the head that are disposed in longitudinal projection of creases 5, in which position the ears slightly overlap the rear margin of the side extensions 56 and complete the sides of the head. The tip 41 is bent downwardly closing the forward end of the muzzle.

Thus, a substantially hollow body and head are formed and the head is elevated above the back at its upper portion, providing a rearwardly facing rear end to the head. Also the neck formation provides against breaking of the head and body at the neck upon a child manipulating the head to make it bob up and down, as has heretofore been the case in other attempts to form paper animals.

Other variations will be apparent from the foregoing, in order to make different types of figures for simulating the various kinds of animals, such as cows, horses, elephants, etc., but the completed mechanical characteristics generally are present in practically all of these forms.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A paper toy animal comprising a single flat blank of paper having an elongated central strip and body and head portions formed integrally therewith, said blank being formed in outline to provide extensions projecting from the opposite side edges of the central portion and formed integrally with the strip and the blank being creased along the junctures of the extensions and central portion for folding the extensions to opposed relation-ship for forming the opposite sides of the body of the animal, means, including the part of the strip adjacent the head end of the blank arranged and adapted to flexibly support the head of the body elevated with adjacent margins of the body and head in overlapping relation and said last mentioned means including a portion of said strip folded on itself at the juncture of the head and. body portions.

NELL SPOTS. 

